Willowbrook returns eight seniors from last year's team that finished third in Class 4A, incluiding Louisville recruit Hannah Kenny (6). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEven Superman needed a little help from the Justice League from time to time.Willowbrook’s 5-7 setter/rightside hitter Hannah Kenny had 11 kills, 17 assists, 12 digs, 6 aces and a block Wednesday against visiting Lyons Township.Somehow, it wasn’t enough.Lyons Township overcame deficits of 17-9 in the second set and 20-12 in the third to defeat Willowbrook, 25-27, 25...

Loyola Academy middle hitter Ellen Gundlach (12) earned Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com All-Tournament honors after helping to lead the Ramblers to the championship of the Mizuno Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and contested at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“It’s good to be back,” said Loyola Academy’s Grace Kreutz.Kreutz, who had not played for Loyola since tearing an ACL after a sophomore season that saw her lead the Ramblers to an IHSA Class 4A...

Setter Lauren O'Brien (9) led No. 10-ranked Bloomington Central Catholic to a 25-12, 25-21 victory over No. 3 Williamsville on Tuesday in Bloomington. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBLOOMINGTON – The Williamsville High School volleyball team had the will, but not the height to avoid a 25-12, 25-21 loss at Bloomington Central Catholic on Tuesday.The showdown between Class 2A powers saw the visiting Bullets come in ranked No. 3 by Illprepvb.com compared to the host Saints at No. 10.Central Catholic – with 6...

Barrington won its fourth consecutive championship at Jacobs, defeating Crystal Lake Central, 25-22, 25-21, in the final. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAddie Brookbank wasn’t going to be the one to let the streak end.“We’ve won this every year I’ve been here,” said Barrington’s 6-0 senior outside hitter.And what happens when Barrington wins the Jacobs tournament?“Good things happen when we win this,” said Barrington coach Michelle Mayer-Jakubowski.Brookbank supplied 7 kills and an ace and Whitney Mall provided 9 kills and an ace as B...

SPVB 16 Elite dropped its final match in Orlando, a 25-20, 27-25 loss to GP 16 Rex (Orlando, Florida) in a Gold bracket quarterfinal feed-in match, to finish 8-2 and in ninth place in the 16 Open dvision. (Photo by Ellie Stiernagle) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOrlando, Florida – It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. And that was just one match. SPVB 16 Elite, the only Illinois entry to reach the championship bracket of the 16 Open division at the AAU Girls National Championships in Orlando, Florida, built lead...

St. Ignatius may have been a surprise IHSA Clas 3A semifinalist in 2023, but it would not shock anyone to see the Wolfpack feasting in Normal again this fall. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The 2024 girls high school volleyball season got underway last Monday with the start of practice/tryouts, and Illprepvb.com continues its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal. So, here is (almost) every...

Lexington High School outside hitter Avery Poppe (8) had difficulty penetrating Tremont's block during a 25-12, 25-12 loss to the host Turks on Thursday. Tremont finished with 7 blocks. (On the home page) Tremont High School setter Lilly Klaus (21), who recently surpassed 1,000 career assists, had 25 assists and 8 digs in Thursday's 25-12, 25-12 victory over previously unbeaten Lexington at Tremont. (Photos by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comTREMONT – Playing shorthanded against Tremont High School’s strong-armed volley...

Former Murphysboro coach Mike Layne had plenty to celebrate during his 20 years as head coach of the Red Devils. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSix years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, at the time, nothing ever came of that phone call. But we felt that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue.In July 2020, with input from current and former coaches, players and officials, Illprepvb.com put together the in...